Portable beverage container incorporating game scoring device

ABSTRACT

A portable container having movable indicia on an external surface of the container to keep track of game scores or other events and is characterized by the use of external numbered bands or sleeves with associated markers as set forth in different embodiments as hereinafter described.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a utility conversation of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/392,542 filed 13 Oct. 2010, for PORTABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER WITH SCORE KEEPING OPTIONS, by Aaron M. Polack and Lawrence J. Witt and is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND AND FIELD

The following relates to containers and more particularly relates to a portable container having indicia for keeping track of events, such as, calendar dates or the score in sporting events or games while enjoying a beverage.

Many recreational games are played indoors or outdoors without a scoreboard or scoring device, and keeping track of scores is difficult. The present apparatus allows for portable score keeping while also allowing one to keep a beverage dispenser chilled or warm with an insulated holder. This allows teams to keep track of the score on a handheld device, while keeping their beverage insulated.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the embodiments shown and described herein, there is a portable scoring device defined by an upright cylindrical hollow member having a lower closed bottom portion and an exterior sidewall terminating in an upper, open end; and at least one scoring member on said exterior sidewall including scoring indicia. The hollow member may be insulated. The scoring member includes at least one rotational band journaled with respect to the sidewall and includes circumferentially spaced detents along an interior surface of band(s). The sidewall also may include at least one ridged member along an exterior surface of the sidewall and underlying the rotational band(s).

The above and other advantages and features will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of different embodiments when take together with the accompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the device;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of FIG. 1 shown without bands;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of dual bands as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is top perspective view with a cutaway portion;

FIG. 5A is a magnified view of the cutaway of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a first alternate embodiment of the device;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second alternate embodiment of the device; and

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a third alternate embodiment of device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT

Referring in more detail to the drawings, a first embodiment of a portable dispenser, holder or container with score keeping options is shown in FIGS. 1-5, the dispenser 11 comprising an upright cylindrical hollow member 13 having a lower closed circular bottom portion 15 and an outer cylindrical sidewall 17 terminating in an upper, open end 19. The dispenser is preferably made of metal but may also be fabricated from plastic, glass, foam; or a pliable material such as rubber or Neoprene® to form a collapsible holder. The holder 11 is designed to partially encircle a beverage dispenser such as a cup, an aluminum beverage can or bottled beverage and may be rigid in form or collapsible. The holder may also be used to contain snacks or other useful articles. The holder 11 may be insulated on the inside or outside to keep the beverage chilled or warm. A foam insert 21 may be inserted within the holder 11 to act as an insulator and a circular foam pad 23 may be secured to the bottom portion 15 of the holder to provide a gripping surface so that the holder does not move when placed on a smooth surface and also to prevent watermarks from condensation from the beverage.

The score-keeping options include movable indicia on an external surface of the container to keep track of game scores or other events and is characterized by the use of at least one band or ring 25, 27 journaled with respect to the holder. The band(s) 25, 27 are designed to fit within circular depressions or indentations 29, 30 along an exterior surface of the holder 11. As shown in FIG. 2, if more than one band or ring is used, the bands 25, 27 are independently journaled with respect to the holder 11 and independently rotatable with respect to one another. Each band 25, 27 has equally spaced circumferentially arrayed indentations 31 along an interior surface 33 forming detents that are aligned with scoring indicia 35 along an exterior surface 37 of the ring as shown in FIGS. 5 and 5A. The sidewall 17 of the holder includes at least one ridged or raised member 39, 39′ along an exterior surface of the sidewall and underlying the rotational band(s) 25, 27. The spaced detents 31 are aligned and are co-extensive with the ridged members 39, 39′ allowing a user to rotate the band 25, 27 to a desired number or scoring indicia 35 on the band. In this way, the detent 31 underlying the selected scoring indicia 35 will rest on the ridged member 39, 39′ thereby forming a temporary stop. In this manner, the user may be assured that the rotational bands will not rotate freely as slight pressure must be applied to the band in order to force the detent past the ridged member.

A score pointer 41 may also be present on the exterior sidewall as shown in FIG. 2. The score pointer 41 allows a user to determine the score as the band can be rotated so that the selected score indicia is indicated with the score pointer. In this embodiment the score pointer 41 is aligned with each ridged member 39, 39′ as shown. As set forth previously, the band can be moved incrementally in a horizontal direction with the detent catching on the ribbed member to aid in keeping the band in a desired spot for scoring.

As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the scoring indicia are numbers 0-21 and circumferentially spaced on the band(s) but any form of scoring indicia may be used and embossed or painted on the band(s). Typically a graduated scale is most helpful for scoring. The band(s) may also be made of different colors to differentiate teams or players. As set forth previously, the holder can be made of plastic or metal, it may be an insulated cup member having a plastic or metal exterior and an insulating interior of the container to keep beverages hot or cold. The beverage or item of choice may be placed in the insulated holder and enjoyed while playing a game and keeping score at the same time. A container, such as a cup, may also be used without departing from the scope of this embodiment. The cup may be manufactured with a depression or indentation to retain at least one rotational band in place and the insulation placed externally of the cup beneath the scoring bands 25, 27.

In use, the holder is used to contain a can, bottle or container. The user may play any type of game that requires score-keeping, such as, but not limited to, bocce, cornhole, washers, horseshoes, ladderball, volleyball, baseball, Frisbee games, tetherball, badminton and croquet. The user has the option of recording a score by rotating one or both of the bands 25 and 27 to the desired score as indicated with the score pointer 41.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS

Another embodiment as shown in FIG. 6, is defined by a pliable or collapsible holder 43 having a vertical sidewall 45, a partially closed end 47 and an opposite open end 49. The holder 43 has a score-keeping option that is made of hook and loop fastening strips 51, such as Velcro®. The strips 51 are secured to the collapsible holder 43 and have scoring indicia 53 which are circumferentially spaced on the strips 51. Velcro® scoring markers 55 may be releasably secured to the strips and moved to indicate scoring as discussed above. The fastening strips 51 may also be magnetized strips which are secured to the holder and have circumferentially spaced scoring indicia with a magnetized scoring marker.

FIG. 7 demonstrates another form of portable scoring device 57 that may be made of soft pliable material, such as, rubber, soft plastic for a pliable or collapsible holder or a rigid plastic or metal for a non-collapsible holder. Semi-rigid strips 57, 59 are secured to the holder and have circumferentially spaced scoring indicia 63. Scoring markers 65, 67 in the form of open rectangular frames with a window 69 are slidable with respect to the rigid strips 57, 59 and can be moved to reveal the current score.

FIG. 8 demonstrates another form of portable scoring device having a holder 71, and magnetic bands 73, 75 are journaled with respect to the holder 71. A cloth or fabric sleeve 77 is placed over the holder 71 with the magnetic bands 73, 75, and the sleeve 77 may have insulating properties. Circumferentially spaced scoring indicia 78 are printed on the sleeve 77 and are aligned with the respective magnetic bands 73, 73. Magnetized scoring markers 79 and 81 may be placed on the scoring indicia 63/magnetic bands 73, 75 to keep track of scoring.

It is therefore to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiment have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with the details of the structure and function of the embodiment, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made within the principles of the embodiment to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed and reasonable equivalents thereof. 

1. A portable scoring device comprising: an upright cylindrical hollow member having a lower closed bottom portion and exterior sidewall terminating in an upper, open end; and at least one scoring member on said exterior sidewall including scoring indicia.
 2. The portable scoring device according to claim 1 wherein said hollow member includes insulation secured to said hollow member.
 3. The portable scoring device according to claim 1 wherein said scoring member(s) includes at least one rotational band journaled with respect to said sidewall.
 4. The portable scoring device according to claim 3 wherein said rotational band(s) has circumferentially spaced detents along an interior surface of said band.
 5. The portable scoring device according to claim 4 wherein said sidewall includes at least one ridged member along an exterior surface of said sidewall and underlying said rotational band(s).
 6. The portable scoring device according to claim 5 wherein said spaced detents are movable into alignment with said ridged member.
 7. The portable scoring device according to claim 1 wherein said sidewall includes at least one score marker.
 8. The portable scoring device according to claim 1 wherein said hollow member is pliable or collapsible.
 9. The portable scoring device according to claim 1 wherein said scoring member(s) includes a plurality of rings independently journaled and rotatable with respect to one another and said sidewall.
 10. A portable cup holding device incorporating a game scoring apparatus comprising: a hollow cylindrical container for holding a desired type of beverage or item, said container including at least one exterior housing; and said scoring apparatus having at least one rotational band that is journaled on said housing.
 11. The portable container according to claim 10 wherein said rotational band(s) includes interior detent members aligned with exterior scoring indicia.
 12. The portable container according to claim 11 wherein said rotational band(s) are selectively movable so that selected of said scoring indicia can be progressively moved to align with one of a series of score markers in scoring the game.
 13. The portable container according to claim 10 wherein said rotational bands are magnetized and are underlying a fabric sleeve having circumferentially spaced scoring indicia and magnetized scoring markers.
 14. In a portable beverage and scoring container having a hollow vertical sidewall, a closed end portion and an open opposite end, the improvement comprising: a game scoring device having at least one ring member, circumferentially spaced scoring indicia and a scoring marker.
 15. The portable beverage and scoring container according to claim 14 wherein said at least one ring member and said scoring marker are magnetized.
 16. The portable beverage and scoring container according to claim 14 wherein said scoring markers are defined by open rectangular frames slidable with respect to said ring member(s).
 17. The portable beverage and scoring container according to claim 14 wherein said at least one ring member and said scoring marker comprise hook and loop fastening material.
 18. The portable beverage and scoring container according to claim 14 wherein said container includes a sleeve with said circumferentially spaced scoring indicia. 